Lenovo agrees to preload Windows Live services on new PCs

Finally, a piece of good news for the Microsoft Windows Live/Online Services unit.

On March 13, Lenovo and Microsoft announced an agreement via which Lenovo will preload certain Windows Live services on ThinkPad notebooks, ThinkCentre desktops and Lenovo-branded PCs. Among the services included are the Windows Live Toolbar and access to Web search via Live.com. The deal marks the first OEM win for Windows Live -- and comes at the expense of Google, with whom Lenovo had a Web search bundling deal.

Microsoft's OEM division has been working on cementing Windows Live preload deals for more than a year. Microsoft rival Google has been striking similar OEM deals for its Web services, including a much-publicized agreement last year with Dell Computer.